Customised Board Design

To custom order a board you need to follow some simple steps, select an option from every category in the side menu, starting with the model you want. Once you have designed your new board and sent through the order, we will contact you to check your order.

*Please note that this custom order page is for all models except the Long, Mini Long and Asym. If you are interested in one of these models please contact us directly (click here) for more information and a quote.

Here are a few helpful hints when designing your board:

Size / Width / Thickness

All our models and the available sizes have been optimized to suit varied sizes of surfer and wave combination.

Technology

As a result of years of manufacturing and testing new technologies we find the best options are as follows:

PU (Polyurethane) is the most common technology being used and it’s what you’ll find a majority of surfers riding. It’s durable, reliable and the least expensive option.

EPS (Extruded Polystyrene) is an epoxy technology which allows greater buoyancy from a lighter blank but still retains the strength properties of a standard PU blank and hence is becoming more widely used.

Future Flex is a flex technology utilizing a combination of carbon rails, EPS blanks and epoxy resins. Fast and responsive, this is my personal small wave choice.

Carbon Patches

Carbon fibre strips placed under the back foot on the rails of the board will protect your rails and add to the flex return in the tail, strengthening heel and toe points.

Glassing

Standard: (4x4x4) Layer of 4oz cloth on the bottom and two layers on the top.

This is what we recommend and is most widely used. By utilizing high end materials we get a responsive, light yet durable board.
Heavy: (6x4x6) Layer of 6oz cloth on the bottom and a layer of 4oz and 6oz on the top.
This is for the bigger guy and the bigger waves.
Ultra light: (4x4 + toe) Layer of 4oz cloth on the bottom and top with a 4oz toe patch.

This is for the grommets and pro’s.

All EPS glassing comes in varied layups according to design aspects.

Fins

We love fin systems and experimenting is fun. Not only are they great for traveling but you can enhance the performance of your board by changing the size or number of your fins which will allow you to surf a greater range of waves. We offer a fantastic range of fins here on our website. Fixed fins are another option usually for the heavier guy or bigger waves.

Fin Configuration

1 Fin: The single fin stands alone. Stylish and cool

2 Fin: Twins and keels. Smooth speed.

3 Fin: Is the most common configuration. The rail fins help create speed, while the centre fin gives you drive and stability.

4 Fin: Quad fins are fast and loose. Eliminating the drag of the third fin of the thruster. The quad maintains effortless speed through turns and in the barrel.

5 Fin: The 5 plug system gives the surfer the option to ride a thruster or a quad when the conditions allow. As a thruster in steeper, faster waves and as a quad in sloppy, weak, gutless waves.

Driver Fin: I developed the driver fin to eliminate the small percentage of drift whilst initiating a turn riding quad set-ups. Click here to purchase it!

Tail

Each model has a range of tail options which we recommend sticking to as these are designed to enhance the performance of the board.

Logo Position

Check the logo position page to see the three options you can choose from.

Artwork

Tints and prints available.

P.O.A. on all hand done art.

Please choose one of the dollar amounts on the drop down menu that suits
your budget for board art and we can customise your design to suit your
budget.

Design Variables – The elements of design describing the components of a surfboard. Template – The outline of the surfboard.

Rocker – Dimensional lines along the bottom, top, and rail of the surfboard usually referenced from nose to tail.

Bottom Rocker – Dimensional curve following a line along the bottom of a surfboard.

Deck Rocker – Dimensional curve following a line along the top of a surfboard. The area defined by plotting bottom and deck rocker defines the foil or thickness flow of a surfboard from nose to tail.

Rail Rocker – Dimensional curve along the rail of a surfboard. This line follows the outline and the bottom of a surfboard's rail(s). The relationship between a surfboard's bottom rocker and rail rocker helps define the bottom contours of a surfboard.

Bottom Contours – The nose to tail and rail to rail configuration of the bottom of a surfboard. Bottom contours may be flat, convex, concave, or a combination of these.

Deck Contours – The nose to tail and rail to rail configuration of the deck of a surfboard. Deck contours vary from flat to crowned.

Rails – Transition area between the bottom and deck of a surfboard configured for various performance options.

Rail Profiles – Section shape of the rail. Rail profiles vary in configuration and dimension. Configurations includes round, boxy or square, and crowned profiles. Dimensions vary from relatively thin, to medium, to thick and apply to all configurations.

Foil – Distribution of volume throughout a surfboard.

Foil (primary) – Thickness flow or distribution of volume along the center of a surfboard from nose to tail.

Deck Foil – Thickness flow or distribution of volume from side to side or rail to rail of a surf- board. The deck foil also varies from nose to tail.

Rail Foil – Thickness flow or distribution of volume along the rail of a surfboard from nose to tail.

Stringer – Wood, foam, plastic, or reinforced plastic element glued into the center of a blank on a vertical axis. Stringers provide a crucial "I-beam" element to the "core" of a "foam sandwich." They reinforce the ultimate strength of a surfboard by holding the top and bottom "skins" of the "foam sandwich" apart.

Fiberglass – Fabrics of various weave, finish, and weight used as the reinforcement in a plastic matrix. When combined with a resin system the resulting composite forms the "skin" of a "foam sandwich" surfboard.

Resin – A material, generally a polymer, that has an indefinite and often high molecular weight. Resins are used as the matrix that binds together the reinforcement materials in composites.

Glassing Schedule – The arrangement of fabrics and resins included in the "skin" of a "foam sandwich" surfboard.

Curing – Time length of time a catalyzed thermosetting resin system retains a viscosity low enough for it to be suitable for processing.

Curing - Post Cure – Exposure of cured resin to higher temperatures to improve the mechanical properties of the resin system in the "skin" of a "foam sandwich."

Mechanical Properties – The properties of the "core" and "skin" materials that contribute to the ultimate strength and durability of a surfboard. These include bond, compression, flexural, impact, shear, tensile, and thermal strengths. These properties increase and decrease exponentially as a product of the surfboard's design.

UltimateStrength – Measure of the ability of a surfboard to absorb energy. The maximum toughness and durability achieved by a surfboard's "design."

Fatigue – The failure of a composite's or a materials's mechanical properties as the result of repeated "stress." Strength to Weight Ratio – The relative relationship between the weight of a surfboard and the ultimate strength of a surfboard. "Custom" surfboard construction allows for the functional and relevant application of foam density, stringer, and glassing schedule. Surfboards may vary from a 4 1/2 pound high performance shortboard to a 20 pound tow in gun, from a light weight performance longboard to a classic heavy weight reproduction of a 50's - 60's era longboard, or may be the moderate and sensible strength and weight of a recreational oriented shortboard, hybrid or funboard.

ROCKER

Rocker is a dimensional curve along the bottom, top, and rail of the surfboard usually referenced from nose to tail.

Bottom Rocker - Dimensional curve following a straight line along the bottom of a surfboard. Bottom rocker is the backbone or foundation of a well designed surfboard.

Deck Rocker - Dimensional curve following a straight line along the top of a surfboard. The area defined by plotting bottom and deck rocker defines the foil or thickness flow of a surfboard from nose to tail.

Rail Rocker - Dimensional curve along the rail of a surfboard. This line follows the outline and the bottom of a surfboard's rail(s). The relationship between a surfboard's bottom rocker and rail rocker helps define the bottom contours of a surfboard.

Rocker is an extremely significant variable in the design of a surfboard.

Bottom rocker is (generally) the first design element a shaper puts into a surfboard. Once the bottom rocker is established the shaper will proceed to add bottom contours and foil the board from nose to tail and side to side, ALL in relation to the bottom rocker. It’s essential that these additional variables compliment the bottom rocker of the board. If these design variables are not in sync, they risk working against each other.

A well designed bottom rocker, functional – relevant – and well executed, is the foundation of a “magic” board.

BOTTOM CONTOURS

The Bottom of the Board

There are several bottom contour configurations found in contemporary surfboard design. They may be divided into three primary groups: flat, convex, and concave. All may be applied to any type of surfboard, although most are relevant to specific types of boards.

FOILS / PROFILES

Foils / Profiles Overview

The foil / profile refers to the distribution of thickness of the surfboard. Surfboards are “foiled” nose to tail and rail to rail. The foils / profiles of surfboards vary with the many “classes” or types of surfboards. The foil / profile nose to tail facilitates several performance features of the surfboard – forward movement, momentum and inertia, initiating maneuvers, control of the rails and tail of the surfboard, and support of the surfer's displacement and technique. The foil / pro- file rail to rail facilitates many of the same performance features and others as well – transitions from rail to rail, initiating maneuvers, control and support of the surfer's displacement and technique through maneuvers.

OUTLINES

Overview

The outline of a surfboard is the distribution and configuration of the surface area of the surf- board. This layout is referred to as the plan shape or the template of the surfboard.

Outlines are often referenced by the configuration of specific elements of the surfboard: the tail (roundtail, roundpin, pintail, squash tail, swallow tail) – the nose (shortboard nose, full nose, no nose, single fin nose, hybrid nose, longboard nose) – or the relative width of the surfboard (narrow board, wide board, narrow nose with wide tail, full nose with tear drop tail.)

TAILS

Roundtails

Common to small wave boards where the design and performance preference is to maintain significant surface area without the “corner” typical to squash and swallow tails. A roundtail will release a bit easier off the top of a wave than a squash or swallow, but will not be as easy to “square off ” a turn in mid face or off the bottom of a wave.

Roundpin tails

The smooth curves and the reduced surface area allow this tail template to maintain more control than the roundtail when performing critical maneuvers. The roundpin template is common to a wide variety of short- boards, semi guns, hybrids, and longboards.

Pintails

Absolutely minimizes the surface area in the tail of the surfboard’s outline. A great tail design where control is the primary design consideration – used exclusively by shapers and designers for large semi guns and big wave guns.

Squash tails

The most common tail template for shortboards, hybrids, and longboards. The squash tail combines maximum surface area (provides lift and generates speed) with a soft squared corner (for control.)

Thumb tails

Thumbtails borrow the best of squash tails and round pin tails and morph them into a very functional tail design. They maintain the surface area of the squash and incorporate the smooth transitions of a round pin through maneuvers. The surface area provides lift and speed for a powerful feeling off the bottom. The soft thumb like corners are very forgiving and transition rail to rail with ease.

Swallow tails

The swallow tail shares it’s fundamentals with the squash tail. The layout of the swallow tail maximizes surface area – from rail to rail or side to side – in short and mid range shortboards then reduces the surface area between the corners with a cut out area that provides a great deal of control into and out of turns.

RAILS

Overview

Rails are the primary interface between surfboards and waves. The volume and configuration of rails facilitate control, maneuverability, power, and speed. In the same manner as the other primary variables of surfboard design, rail designs will vary according to the design goals of every surfer and the various wave they ride. Rail design is a function of the physical features and technique (board management skills) of the surfer, the various waves they ride, and the other design variables and features incorporated in any surfboard.

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"Mate, so stoked with the newy! Can’t wait to test it. One of those crafts you put under your arm and go FARK how good is this! Stokein'...

I'm now a quad fin convert, seems to ride so much smoother and heaps of speed though turns. Thanks D'Arcy a big thumbs up for my new Bomb. Its a board every surfer should have in their quiver :-)"

Adam Arnold

"Broke in the Bomb this weekend down in Vicco!! F#*kn awesome!!! So sick I love it!! Thanks mate!!!"

Ado Wiseman - Poska Artist

To Darc, Michelle and all the crew, a big thank you for making my son Jesse's Xmas. The quality of your work, the turn around time and the awesome design/shape - second to none! If you are looking for a custom made board go no further than D'Arcy. You won't be able to take the smile off your dial;0)
Merry Xmas from Andrew & Jesse Douglas.

Andrew Douglas

"Just picked up another great looking 5'11 shred stick from Darcy. Louis Gervais got his hands on this one too and Jazzed it up as usual. Im keen to get on it ASAP."

Asher Pacey, Gold Coast

"Darcy crafted this amazing looking small wave board with some bonus artwork by Louis Gervais. Looks pretty groovy I think.."

Asher Pacey, Gold Coast

"I'm pretty stoked for 2 reasons. A. D'arcy just made me a modified version of one of my favourite D’Arcy boards. B. I asked good mate Louis Gervais to draw me a creepy tree with a red glow in the background. He did an amazing job and it just added some flare to my board i am already psyched on."

Asher Pacey, Gold Coast

"Hi guys, just wanted Darcy to know i am so stoked with the boards and extras, cant wait to try the roast lamb out ha ha!"

D'Arcy! Thank you so much for the most ridiculous custom shape. She's beautiful. #darcysurfboards #loveyourwork #shaper

Dax Miller - California, USA

It's official! Just got out of the water from the 3rd session today on the custom shape you made me for Bali. She rips! Fast, responsive, loose and holds solid in the pocket. Thank you D'Arcy!!!

Dax Miller - LA, California

"Just put the board through it's paces at D-bah. What a corker, goes like a rocket and turns on a dial, best one ever for me. Thanks Bru!"

Eric Pearson - Gold Coast

The Dragon model - She is smother than Marvin Gaye, has more drive than Tiger Woods, loves the rail more than a Columbian, takes turns better than Lewis Hamilton and, when you need it, has more squirt than a Bangkok whore's Ping Pong ball trick! Loving the board and hope you can get back over here so I can order another Magic Wave Wand from Ya..!!

Frank - RipCurl, UK

"The bomb is fantastic… makes my 40yo legs feel 20 again…thought I was destined for the mal brigade but I reckon at least another 10 years on the short board no problems. Haven’t had this much speed ever before…"

Guy O'Neill

These things go sick!!

James McMillan, Byron Bay

Very happy!!!! blessed to have an artist for a shaper. Plus his beard gives him super powers!

Jeff Slayter, Manly

Hi Michelle and D’Arcy,
Thanks for sending through Tom’s board and the accessories.
I gave it to him last night for his birthday and he was as excited as a kid in a candy store, although I have now fallen to number 2 ranking in his life as the surfboard is now number 1.
Thanks again for everything and for helping set this up.
Hope you both have a great weekend.
Jess

Jessica Ferguson, Victoria

"Lovin’ that single fin you shaped for me Darc!!!! Haven't got off it & don't plan too !!! Yeeeooowwww!!!!"

Jimmy Gadd

Dude! This looks insane! I've been on one of your asymmetrical tail boards before and I absolutely loved it at D'bah. I think I want one...

"Got this little number last year. Goes unreal I've been riding it almost exclusively since. Thanks heaps Darc!"

Luke Bouris, NSW

Hey Fella, just got my Frequent Flyer Quad off you...cheers Stuart...stunning bit of kit! Can’t wait to get him in the water this weekend!

Michaela Groarke

"The pit pro 5'10'' for Juliette ,really nice , thanks a lot Darcy , I hope you'll see her in snapper, she leaves on Tuesday."

Olivier Brice, France

"Thank you for the boards you have shaped me over the years my friend. Your actions have always spoken louder than words and as the quality of you as a person is in the great people I see around you.That is why your craftmanship will endure, may the next chapter in your life bring you the happiness and joys you and the family deserve. love you guys and "keep ripping bro!"

Phil Brown, Gold Coast

"I still have both surfboards....almost two years on heavy surf and they look like brand new, so stoked.....thank´s for the hospitality at your fabric Stuart!"

Renato Pelecho Aguirre, Chile

"Hey Darc. Wanted to say thanks again for another great board you have shaped me. After all the boards I have got from you over the years they just keep on getting better and better. Keep up the good work Darc."

Ryan Shaw, Gold Coast

"I am totally stoked with the purchase of my new 6,2 Darcy Surfboard!"

Sam Stefanaras, Gold Coast

"Hi ya bud, without this board I don’t know where I’d be now, thanks for getting me back in the water!!"

Sam Weatherhead - WA

I would like to thank you for all the Memorable klms I've clocked up on D'Arcy surfboards and know there's many more to come!! I'm glad my shaper gives a f*#k! Good onya mate keep up the great work!

Selim Dalvean, Victoria

"Well you are a sick shaper, you showed me around your old factory and let me watch you shape a board :) And you remind me of my dad soo much :)"

Shaun Gerrard, NSW

"Our Web Editor just picked up his new board from D'Arcy Surfboards, and he's pretty stoked on how it looks."

Surfing Life Magazine

"Dave Gilmour reminds me of you, cos you're both geniuses!"

Ted O’Neil - The Vasco Era

"Thanks heaps Michelle Blauw , Stuart D'Arcy & Kye for my new board . I think its the best looking board I have ever seen , heaps better than any of Dads !! It turned out much awesome than I imagined it would !!! Still can't wipe the smile off my face. You guys are awesome , thanks heaps Tiggy xxx"

Tiggy, Gold Coast

"Hi Guys. Happy New Year! My and Thijs Bender's Christmas presents arrived in good order and are back in Holland now. Got out several times on the Half Pint mini nose rider. Pretty average to quite good surf. Worked a treat every time. Wonderful board! Fabulous shape by Stuart D'Arcy and immaculate glassing by Nick Williams. Report on the Frequent Flyer to follow."